ABC Leadership

Director

Kim Wilson

Kim, an alumna of Winthrop University, returns after a twenty five year departure to devote her passion for arts education to the children of her home state. Her experience in arts education began in community education teaching adult and children’s classes at Shelburne Craft School, University of Vermont, and Very Special Arts VT. Afterwards, she served as Director of Education at Pewabic Pottery, a historic Arts and Crafts era production pottery, in Detroit, MI, and Executive Director for Sawtooth School for Visual Arts in Winston-Salem, NC.



Over the last ten years, Kim has focused on public arts education. After only teaching four years, Kim was recognized as the 2012 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. Since that time she has transitioned into empowering all educators with creativity-fostering teaching practices, including arts-integration strategies through her work with Arkansas A+ Schools. Kim earned an Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership from Walden University, where she was bestowed the 2019 Leadership Excellence Award for distinguished scholarship and positive impact to the Walden community during the course of her graduate program.



In her new role as ABC Institute Director, Kim is eager to utilize all of her passion, belief, and experiences in art education to ensure all children in South Carolina have access to quality, sequential fine arts education.

School Program Specialist

New School Specialist coming soon!

Business Operations Manager

Cheryl Taylor

Cheryl is originally from Charleston, WV. She moved to Rock Hill, SC in June 1998 and began working with the ABC Institute in August of that same year. She and her husband have been married for over 40 years and have four grandchildren. She is very active in her church working in the children's ministry and community groups. Cheryl also serves on the Board of United International Ministries which extends biblical hospitality to the international community of local educators and college students. She enjoys reading, camping and hiking and stays quite busy in the ABC Institute office managing the day-to-day business operations.

District Program Specialist

Emily Prado

Bio coming soon

Virtual Program Specialist

Jennifer Coffey

Jennifer Coffey has worked in education for 10 years, and joined the ABC Institute in 2021 as the Virtual Teaching and Learning Program Specialist. As a former K-12 public educator, Jennifer has a passion for serving SC’s teachers. Holding a BA in Dance Education from the University of South Carolina, she began her career as a middle school dance educator where she also discovered her love for coaching and mentoring. During her time in public education, Jennifer attended numerous summer arts institutes, presented at state arts education conferences, and also managed her school’s Distinguished Arts Program Grant. She has served as president of the South Carolina Dance Association, and continues to serve as the chair of the organization’s competition committee.

Program Coordinator

Cindy Hinds

Cindy Hinds played a supporting role in student success for 20 years before joining ABC in April 2023. Working closely with students, as a learning coach and tutor, she developed systems to address educational challenges and improve overall academic performance. This work fueled a passion for identifying and implementing tools that support student success, like arts integration. In addition to her work with students, Cindy consulted with and provided administrative support to fledgling entrepreneurs as they built and launched their businesses. Cindy is originally from Petaluma, California, but relocated with her family to the Carolina's in 2009. She has been married for 30 years and has three married children and 4 granddaughters. She became a Master Gardener a few years back and more recently returned college to expand her education. Cindy loves to spend time with her family, grow flowers, and write poetry and short stories. She hopes to publish a series of children's books one day.

CARE Project Program Manager

Jack Hutto

For the last thirty-two years, Jack Hutto has worked in the field of education (30 years in Hampton County) in various capacities as a music and beginning band teacher (14 years) and most recently as a district administrator (18 years). Most recently, he served as the Director of Communications and Special Projects for the Hampton County School District. His position enabled him to coordinate opportunities and services for children and families while coordinating with faith-based groups and the community. In addition to working in the field of education, he previously worked as a paralegal.

He has worked as a community volunteer in Hampton County through Hampton Rotary Club, PEARLS of Hampton County, church mission projects, and was a former member of Hampton County Arts Council.

He serves as the pastor of Hampton and Varnville United Methodist Churches and as the organist at All Saints Episcopal Church.

Jack is married to veteran teacher of 34 years, Mrs. Mary Hutto, who most recently taught 4th grade at Hampton Elementary School. She recently retired and will be serving as the Director of Mother's Morning Out for Hampton United Methodist Church. The two of them live in Hampton along with their puppies, Rhett and Beau.

Content Coordinator

Caroline Cesky

Caroline Cesky has dedicated her career to education since graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2020. A passionate vocalist, she began her journey teaching elementary music and middle school choir before joining the ABC Team. Caroline holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master's in Educational Leadership. Her interest in arts administration peaked during a summer internship at the Kennedy Center, where she worked alongside the Washington National Opera's Education program. In addition to working with ABC, she also assists with the middle and high school choir at her church. Excited to be part of ABC, Caroline looks forward to sharing innovative content with educators across the state. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality moments with her family, diving into a good book, and exploring local coffee shops.

Programs Manager

Jessica Harby

Jessica Harby has collected a set of dynamic and versatile professional experiences in the arts, education, and nonprofit management.

After earning her BFA from Tulane University, Jessica worked across the country as a theater artist, focusing on design, construction, and stage management. She eventually made the transition from backstage into theater administration, education, events direction, and fundraising. Choosing to follow her interest in teaching, she returned to school for her MA in Education from Kean University. In the years that followed, as a public school educator and after school instructor, she developed her love of studying art and artists in support of the core subjects. She also applied her aptitude for educational technology through the design and delivery of professional development courses for fellow educators. When shifting her career into Volunteer Administration, Jessica then applied herself as an educator through her training of youth, adult, and senior volunteers for local and national nonprofit organizations.

In her personal time, Jessica enjoys sketching, nature photography, gardening, DIY projects, visiting parks and nature trails, attending local social and volunteer events, and touring local restaurant menus. She, her husband, and their family dog, originally from New Jersey, are grateful for their adopted community in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and all the wonderful neighbors that support their happiness together.

Jessica is excited to bring her collection of creative and collaborative experiences to ABC Institute, contributing to its legacy.